Driving arrangement having primary and supplementary motor means for driving trains of mechanism, especially web material mechanism



Aug. 29, 1967 3. SCHIFFER 3,338,493

DRIVING ARRANGEMENT .HAVING PRIMARY AND SUPPLEMENTARY MOTOR MEANS FOR DRIVING TRAINS OF MECHANISM, ESPECIALLY WEB MATERIAL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 18, 1965 United States Patent 7 Claims. of 226-111 The present invention relates to a new type of drive for devices and machines arranged in rows or along a path for manufacturing and processing goods, especially web material. Such machine trains which work continuously or in a certain rhythm are of ever increasing importance in connection with mass fabrication. They have in common the feature that from the start of the train where the prefabricated material enters up to the end of the train where the material leaves the train as a finished product, the speed of the material varies at the individual stations and in many instances increases continuously, similar to a wire rolling train where the last roller set has a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first roller set.

In this connection it is, therefore, important that the individual roller sets are driven at speeds which are stepped in conformity with the reduction in width and the extension in length of the respective webs so that on one hand a stretching and on the other hand a damming up or loop formation will be avoided. Since in most instances the individual stations are provided with individual drives, bulky and expensive mechanical and above all electrical control devices are necessary in order to assure the proper speed at the respective individual station.

The present invention is primarily intended for use in connection with such machine trains where the differences in speed from one station to the next station are rather low, which means where the discharge speed is only up to 10% higher or lower than the feeding speed at the first station. When, for instance, a foil of synthetic material leaves a calibrating station at 200 meters per minute and on its way to a stretching mechanism is stretched by not more than the circumferential speed of the stretching rollers must not exceed 210 meters per minute. If with such an arrangement the calibrating rollers and the stretching rollers have a speed control device of their own, it is extremely diflicult to maintain such slight differences in the speed because the synchronous or direct current driven motors affect each other through the pull of the goods passing from one of said stations to the other station and take over a portion of the power of the other station. As a result thereof, the pull sensitive foil is frequently overstretched or even torn.

Mechanical or electrical control arrangements fail in this connection because they are unable to respond sufficiently quickly at the customary speeds, and consequently pendulum movements are unavoidable. In an effort to avoid such situations, it has heretofore been the practice to interpose a fixed coupling between the two drives. Such coupling is usually formed by a stepdown transmission. Another way of coping with the just mentioned situation consists in driving both working stations by a drive common thereto. Such devices, however, have the drawback that speed diflerences cannot be changed.

The driving of individual stations becomes particularly diflicult when the speed differences of the goods are 3,338,493 Ce Patented Aug. 29, 1967 considerably less than 10%, when the moving goods are pull sensitive, as is the case in particular with webs of textile material, and when during the treatment or processing of such goods it is necessary to maintain certain values for the stretch in width and the shrinkage in length. The drive of individual stations furthermore becomes diflicult when instead of an increasing speed of the goods the speed must decrease toward the discharge end, or when the goods move along said train with alternating speed. The above mentioned situations are practically always encountered when processing textiles of considerable width so that for the processing of these particular goods the present invention is of foremost importance. Sometimes, the individual working stations are spaced relatively far from each other so that a direct coupling by mechanical driving elements is not suitable. In this connection there may for instance be mentioned a bleaching train which starts with a singeing frame (Senge) and continues with a high pressure bucking vessel, a plurality of washing stations, an impregnating station, two serially arranged J-boxes, further washing stations, a water calender and a drying device, for instance a stretching frame. Similar trains are involved when dyeing and printing, damping, washing and calendering. The invention is also of particular importance for chainless mercerizing machines the trains of which are subdivided into a plurality of driving groups, while also the intermediate squeezers, the adjacent lye removing and the washing stations are driven separately. Particular difficulties are encountered also due to the fact that the goods which are introduced into the train in wide stretched condition must over their entire path, including the intermediate squeezer mechanism, up to the lye removing devices, remain in firm contact with the rollers in order to counter the shrinking tendency caused by the influence of the lye. In this connection, however, only the stretching in width is influenced. However, it has long been desired in connection with chainless m'ercerizing machines also to influence the stretch of the goods in longitudinal direction. To this end, numerous devices have been suggested which were intended to bring about a precisely limited longitudinal stretch.

With multi-motor devices, electric shafts are best known, or rather expensive stepless or fixed control transmissions which are interposed between the individual stations.

It has also been. suggested to control the stretch in longitudinal direction in conformity with the load of pendulum rollers which while resting on a counter roller operate with a fixed path of the goods. Since, however, the forces of the goods alone are not suflicient for adjusting the pendulum rollers, pneumatically or mechanically operated auxiliary devices have been employed which, however, exert a certain stretching force upon the goods through the load on the pendulum rollers. Devices of this type have failed in practice because due to their construction of a plurality of mechanical joints and links, soon lack of precision will result in view of corrosion and soiling.

There have furthermore been suggested means for measuring the stretch which control the multi-motors obligatory with such means through electrical or mechanical measuring devices adapted to measure the speed differences. These stretch measuring devices are manually controlled in conformity with the reading on ampere meters of the current consumption at the individual stations. Inasmuch as such control arrangements require a very precise determination of the driving power of the motors, and above all since the motors are positively coupled to each other by the web material, also these devices are not satisfactory.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a driving arrangement for the manufacturing and processing stations for goods, especially web material, which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide an arrangement as set forth above, in which the main driving power is furnished by low cost working current.

Still another object of this invention consists in the provision of an arrangement as set forth above which will be relatively low in cost.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows three driving groups of a relatively long roller train of a chainless mercerizing machine.

FIG. 2 represents an individual group in which the hydraulic motor of the last roller forms the guiding motor for the first roller of the group.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further arrangement according to the invention with a plurality of small groups while the hydraulic motor of the last group forms the guiding motor for the last but one group, and while the discharged pressure fluid of the last but one group forms the hydraulic drive of the last but two groups.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement with three groups in which the pressure of the discharged pressure fluid of the last group hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically controls a control valve of the hydraulic motor of the first group.

For purposes of avoiding the above mentioned drawbacks and creating a satisfactory drive system of reasonable cost, it is suggested according to the present invention that the drives of the individual working stations of a manufacturing or processing train be coupled mechanically with hydraulic motors while selecting the power "so that the drives, for instance stretch controlling direct current motors, are designed for the full required driving power whereas the hydraulic motors are designed only for a fraction of this power so that Whenever there exists a tendency to reduce the speed, they can furnish a low additional output whereas they can exert a braking effect upon the main drive when there exists the tendency to increase the speed. In view of the fine control of the inflow or outflow of the non-compressible pressure fluid, it is possible by means of a hydraulic meter to maintain the speed of a main drive constant to a selected synchronous value.

Such a driving arrangement will, in particular with driving arrangements having an output of several horsepowers, have the great advantage that the main driving power is furnished by low cost working current whereas the more expensive output of the hydraulic transformation will due to the small size of the employed hydraulic motors be rather irrelevant. Also the cost of investment will in view of the employed small motors and the corresponding small hydraulic installation be rather low with regard to the main driving costs and will be considerably less expensive than a mechanical or electric control device.

A further advantage of the invention consists in that the hydraulic motors due to their small size can also be belatedly connected to individual drive motors or to transmission parts thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and FIG. 1 thereof in particular, the arrangement shown therein shows a roller train which is composed of a plurality of rollers 1 to 9 and a squeezer arrangement 10 therebetween. For purposes of simplicity, only the driven lower rollers are shown. The lower rollers 1 to 4, 5 to 8 and 9 are respectively combined to groups and are driven by a mechanical transmission, for instance a chain drive 11, through the intervention of an electric variable drive 13 Whereas the squeezer mechanism 10 is driven by a stronger drive 14. The precise stepping of the velocities with the desired slight difference is brought about by hydraulic motors which are arranged at the transmission 11 at any desired location and with the squeezer arrangement to are by means of a special transmission 12 positively coupled to the drive motor 14. The fluid under pressure is furnished by a hydraulic pump 16 and fed into a collecting line 17 to which the hydraulic motors 15 are connected. The fine adjustment of the speed of the hydraulic motors is effected by fine control valves 19 which are arranged in discharge conduits 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates a group of rollers 5 to 8 which is driven by means of a motor 13 through the intervention of a transmission 11. Coupling connection of this motor with the hydraulic motors 15 is effected through a transmission 12. With this embodiment, it is also intended in fine steps to control the speed of the first roller 5. This is effected in conformity with the present invention by a hydraulic motor 15 which is serially arranged with regard to the hydraulic motor of roller 8 through a conduit 21. Inasmuch as the hydraulic motor on roller 5 is intended to have a somewhat lower speed than the last mentioned roller 8, the reduced speed is realized by arranging a quantity control valve 22 in conduit 21. This valve 22 permits a portion of the discharge pressure fluid to return to a collecting vessel. The adaptation of rollers 5 and 6 is made possible by the fact that these rollers are coupled to a common drive 11 through slip clutches 20.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified arrangement of the hydraulic motors. According to this arrangement, the group-s are still further subdivided. While rollers 1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 8, 9, etc., as well as the squeezer arrangement 10 form groups of their own, the hydraulic motor which is firmly coupled to the squeezing mechanism forms the guiding motor for the two preceding groups 4 to 6, and 7 to 8. The hydraulic motors of the squeezing arrangement 10 and of group 7/8 are arranged in series with each other. Groups 4 to 6 are driven purely hydraulically by the pressure fluid of the hydraulic motor for roller 7 while the speed of said group is controlled by the above mentioned quantity control valve 22.

FIG. 4 shows three groups with electric single drive and with one hydraulic motor each coupled to said groups. However, the hydraulic motor of groups 1 to 4 is controlled by the hydraulic motor of the squeezer mechanism 10 through a remote conduit 23 in a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric manner and through the intervention of a control valve 24. The last mentioned arrangement is advantageously employed in such installations in which the groups coupled to each other and interdependent as to speed are spaced from each other by such distances which would be unsuitable for a direct hydraulic pressure transmission.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangements shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A driving arrangement for trains of manufacturing and processing machines arranged in groups, especially for use in connection with the manufacture and processing of textile web material, which includes: main motor means respectively drivingly connected to said groups for driving the same, and hydraulic motor means coupled to said main motor means and so laid out as to aid the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter encounters an overload, said hydraulic motor means also being effective as braking means for braking the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter tends to run at a higher speed than its normal speed.

2. A driving arrangement for trains of manufacturing and processing machines arranged in groups, especially for use in connection with the manufacture and processing of textile web material, which includes: electric motor means respectively drivingly connected to said groups for driving the same, hydraulic motor means coupled to said main motor means and so laid out as to aid the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter encounters an overload, said hydraulic motor means also being effective as braking means for braking the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter tends to run at a higher speed than its normal speed, hydraulic pump means, fluid supply and return conduit means respectively interconnecting said pump means and said hydraulic motor means, and adjustable choke valve means respectively arranged in one of said conduit means.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, in which said choke valve means is arranged in said return conduit means.

4. A driving arrangement for trains of manufacturing and processing machines arranged in groups, especially for use in connection with the manufacture and processing of textile web material, which includes: main motor means respectively drivingly connected to said groups for driving the same, and a plurality of hydraulic motor means respectively pertaining to said groups and coupled to the main mot-or means of the respective groups, the hydraulic motor means of at least two groups being arranged in series to each other, and one of said hydraulic motor means of the serially arranged hydraulic motor means serving as a guiding motor and being adjustable as to its output for controlling the speed thereof to thereby also control the speed of the other hydraulic motor means in series therewith, said hydraulic motor means being so dimensioned as to aid the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter encounters an overload, said hydraulic motor means also being effective as braking means for the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter tends to run at a higher speed than its normal speed.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which the hydraulic motor means of a plurality of groups are arranged in series while being interconnected by conduit means, and quantity control valve means arranged in said conduit means for controlling the respective successive motor means.

6. In combination with a train of manufacturing and processing machines comprising at least two first groups of machines and at least one additional machine group,

an arrangement which includes: main motor means respectively drivingly connected to said first groups for driving the same, first hydraulic motor means coupled to said main motor means and so dimensioned as to aid the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter encounters an overload, said first hydraulic motor means also being effective as braking means for braking the respective main motor means coupled thereto when the latter tends to run at a higher speed than its normal speed, and second hydraulic motor means drivingly connected to said additional group and arranged in series with one of said first hydraulic motor means, said last-mentioned hydraulic motor means being operable purely hydraulically to drive said second hydraulic motor means.

7. In combination with a train of manufacturing and processing machines comprising at least two first groups of machines and at least one additional machine group, which includes: a plurality of electric motor means respectively drivingly connected to said first groups, a plurality of hydraulic motor means respectively coupled to said electric motor means and operable to aid the respective electric motor means pertaining thereto when the latter have to work under an overload, and also operable to brake said respective electric motor means when the latter tend to run at a speed higher than the normal speed thereof, and remote control means connecting the hydraulic motor means of one of said first group with the hydraulic motor means of said additional group to thereby control said last-mentioned hydraulic motor means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,939,113 12/1933 Ferris 226-111 X 2,996,876 8/1961 Beneditz 6 3,042,279 7/ 1962 Lauerdisse 226188 X 3,176,543 4/1965 Moore et al 226-111 X 3,243,845 4/1966 Cassel 226-188 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Examiner. 

1. A DRIVING ARRANGEMENT FOR TRAINS OF MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING MACHINES ARRANGED IN GROUPS, ESPECIALLY FOR USE IN CONNECTING WITH THE MANUFACTURE AND PROCESSING OF TEXTILE WEB MATERIAL, WHICH INCLUDES: MAIN MOTOR MEANS RESPECTIVELY DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID GROUPS FOR DRIVING THE SAME, AND HYDRAULIC MOTOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAID MAIN MOTOR MEANS AND SO LAID OUT AS TO AID THE RESPECTIVE MAIN MOTOR MEANS COUPLED THERETO WHEN THE LATTER ENCOUNTERS AN OVERLOAD, SAID HYDRAULIC MOTOR MEANS ALSO BEING EFFECTIVE AS BRAKING MEANS FOR BRAKING THE RESPECTIVE MAIN MOTOR MEANS COUPLED THERETO WHEN THE LATTER TENDS TO RUN AT A HIGHER SPEED THAN ITS NORMAL SPEED. 